49ers’ Brooks pleads not guilty in groping case

Published 3:37 pm, Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Photo: Jonathan Bachman, Associated Press

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San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) watches from the bench in the second half of an game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. On Tuesday, Brooks pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of sexual battery in Santa Clara County. less

San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) watches from the bench in the second half of an game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. On Tuesday, Brooks pleaded ... more

Photo: Jonathan Bachman, Associated Press

49ers’ Brooks pleads not guilty in groping case

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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of sexual battery of an intoxicated woman.

Appearing on behalf of his client in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Brooks’ attorney, Josh Cohen, entered the plea to the misdemeanor charge that stemmed from a Dec. 14 incident in which Brooks stands accused of groping an unconscious woman, according to prosecutors.

Brooks, former 49er Ray McDonald and the alleged victim had been drinking at a San Jose bar with other friends before going to McDonald’s house, police said. The woman said she was near the pool when she fell and hit her head.

The woman alleged that McDonald then carried her upstairs to his bedroom and had sex with her without her consent. McDonald was indicted on a charge of rape of an intoxicated person in August, and he pleaded not guilty on Friday.

In December, the 49ers cited a “pattern of poor decision-making” in releasing McDonald. In March, he signed with the Chicago Bears, but was cut from the team after he was arrested again.

In 2013, Brooks wasn’t charged after he allegedly hit then-teammate Lamar Divens in the head three times with a beer bottle, an incident that prompted an investigation by the Santa Clara district attorney’s office. In 2008, when he was playing for the Bengals, Brooks was accused of punching a woman in the face and accepted mediation on the charges.

Since 2012, seven 49ers have accounted for an NFL-high 12 arrests. On Aug. 6, linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested on suspicion of hit and run, driving under the influence and vandalism — his fifth arrest in four years. He was released by the team the next day and has since signed with the Oakland Raiders.

Brooks has remained on the 49ers’ active roster and played Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

He is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 28 for a pre-trial hearing. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.